Maserati Coupe MOT Failures
An analysis of 3,716 real DVSA MOT tests on the Maserati Coupe — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: Type 387 (2002–2007).
Where the Maserati Coupe fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Maserati Coupe is steering rack wear — this model is 78 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a major concern for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 3,716 MOT tests, 3.21% of all Maserati Coupe tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include suspension ball joints worn (53x the fleet average), light unit fault (13x the fleet average), coil springs broken (9.7x the fleet average), and parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement (7.9x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Maserati Coupe's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 4 categories: Steering, Suspension, Lights & Electrics, Brakes. If you're inspecting a Maserati Coupe before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Maserati Coupe's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Maserati Coupe specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are steering rack wear (78x the average) and light unit fault (13x). coil springs broken (9.7x) and parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement (7.9x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Maserati Coupe specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are steering rack wear (53x the average) and suspension ball joints worn (53x).
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Maserati Coupe specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Front spring fracture (Type 387) Dangerous
The front coil springs on the Maserati Coupe suffer from premature fracturing, failing at 9.7 times the national average according to MOT data. Affects Type 387; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£500.
Brake pipe corrosion (Type 387) Dangerous
Brake pipes on the Maserati Coupe suffer from accelerated corrosion, failing MOT tests at 3.1 times the national average. Affects Type 387; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.
Steering rack gaiter deterioration (Type 387) Major
The steering rack protective gaiters (rubber boots) on the Maserati Coupe deteriorate at an exceptionally high rate compared to other vehicles. Affects Type 387; typical independent garage repair cost is £150–£250.
Parking brake efficiency failure (Type 387) Major
The parking brake system on the Maserati Coupe frequently fails to meet minimum efficiency requirements during MOT testing, occurring at 7.9 times the national average. Affects Type 387; typical independent garage repair cost is £180–£300.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Maserati Coupe common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Maserati Coupe
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Maserati Coupe:
Steering — check for steering rack wear. Suspension — check for suspension ball joints worn, coil springs broken. Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault, headlight fault.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about front spring fracture and brake pipe corrosion. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £300. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Maserati Coupe?
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Maserati Coupe MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Maserati Coupe?
Based on 3,716 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is steering rack wear — at 78x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include suspension ball joints worn and light unit fault.
Is the Maserati Coupe reliable based on MOT data?
The Maserati Coupe has 6 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag front spring fracture as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
The most common high-mileage failures include steering rack wear, suspension ball joints worn, light unit fault.
How do I check a Maserati Coupe's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.